Fat collection syringe

ABSTRACT

A fat collection syringe is shown which has a barrel with an open end and a closed end with nipples for connection respectively to a source of high suction vacuum and to a collection needle. A plunger is longitudinally movable in the barrel to facilitate receiving collected material and has a longitudinal central passage for connection to a low suction vacuum for drawing a washing liquid through the material collected therein. The plunger central passage extends from end to end and has a scraper mounted on its inner end wall. A suction tube extends through the passage with a filter on its inner end and is positioned in engagement with the scraper. The outer end of the tube has a cap positioned thereon when vacuum is being applied to the nipple connected to high suction vacuum. The cap is removable from the suction tube to permit the tube to be connected to a low suction vacuum and the other nipple to be connected to a source of washing liquid to draw such liquid through fatty material collected in then barrel. The suction tube is rotatable to move the filter along the scraper to remove contaminants from collected material while washing the same with washing liquid.

This is a division of co-pending application Ser. No. 925,443 filed onOct. 31, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,162.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in processes andapparatus for reconstructive surgery of the human body and moreparticularly to a process wherein fat is removed from one part of a bodyand inserted into an other part, and to apparatus specially constructedto carry out the steps of fat collection and reinjection.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

In the prior art of surgical processes, it is known to remove fattymaterial from sub-dermal regions of the human body. It is also known toinject inert materials, such as silicone, and organic materials, such ascollagen, into selected regions of the body in reconstructive surgery.Surgical instruments are also known for carrying out these procedures.The injection of silicone and of collagen both give rise to problems oftissue compatibility and sometimes serious rejection reactions occur.

MacLean U.S. Pat. No. 2,715,899 discloses a suction curette with avalved opening for controlling application of suction.

Jensen U.S. Pat. No. 3,661,144 discloses a suction operated cannulahaving a storage compartment.

Elmaleh U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,244 discloses a manual suction curettageinstrument.

Gram U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,624 discloses a vacuum curettage device withstorage.

Shah U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,066 discloses a suction operated endometrialsampling device.

Milgrom U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,879 discloses a tissue collecting apparatusincluding a vacuum operated curette with storage.

Ishikawa U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,999 discloses a needle assemblyincorporating a filter.

Balenderjeet U.S Pat. No. 4,466,446 discloses a plunger subassembly forblood gas syringes

McKinnon U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,210 discloses a syringe with means forallowing passage of air while preventing the passage of blood to obtaina gas-free blood sample.

Ford (Warner-Lambert Company) European Patent Application No. 0,047,176discloses a syringe with filter for taking blood samples.

McKinnon Canadian Pat. No. 1,170,940 discloses a syringe with means forallowing passage of air while preventing the passage of blood to obtaina gas-free blood sample.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a new andimproved process for reconstructing human body surface configurations isdisclosed which includes the steps of withdrawing fat from subdermallayers in one portion of the human body and reinjecting the collectedfat in other selected body portions in a controlled distribution.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedcollection-injection process for relocating fat in the body utilizing aspecially-designed, vacuum-operated, collection syringe includingapparatus to wash and filter undesirable particulate and fibrousmaterial from the extracted fat.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedcollection-injection process for relocating fat in the body utilizing anapparatus for retracting the barrel over the plunger of an injectionsyringe to retract the needle during injection to distribute theinjected fat in a pre-determined manner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedcollection-injection process for relocating fat in the body utilizing anapparatus for retracting the barrel over the plunger of an injectionsyringe to retract the needle during injection to distribute theinjected fat in a pre-determined manner, the apparatus comprising apistol grip supporting handle, a movable support means for the injectionsyringe plunger, a mechanism for supporting and moving the injectionsyringe barrel, separate triggers pivotally connected to the handle andseparately movable to operate the movable support and the operatingmechanism from the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved aspecially-designed, vacuum-operated, fat collection syringe includingapparatus to wash and filter undesirable particulate and fibrousmaterial from the extracted fat.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedapparatus for retracting the barrel over the plunger of a fat injectionsyringe to retract the needle during injection to distribute theinjected fat in a predetermined manner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedapparatus for retracting the barrel over the plunger of a fat injectionsyringe to retract the needle during injection to distribute theinjected fat in a predetermined manner, the apparatus comprising apistol grip supporting handle, a movable support means for the injectionsyringe plunger, a mechanism for supporting and moving the injectionsyringe barrel, separate triggers pivotally connected to the handle andseparately movable to operate the movable support and the operatingmechanism from the handle.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from time to timethroughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related.

The foregoing objects and other objects of the invention areaccomplished by a process of reconstructing human body surfaceconfigurations is disclosed which includes the steps of withdrawing fatfrom subdermal layers in one portion of the human body and reinjectingthe collected fat in other selected body portions in a controlleddistribution. The collection step utilizes a specially-designed,vacuum-operated, collection syringe including apparatus to wash andfilter undesirable particulate and fibrous material from the extractedfat. The injection step utilizes a specially designed mechanism forretracting the barrel of a syringe relative to the plunger, mechanismfor retracting the plunger simultaneously with the retraction of thebarrel, and apparatus for variably controlling the rate of retraction ofthe barrel relative to the retraction of the plunger. Details of thecollection syringe and mechanism for operation of the injection syringeare disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of the process comprising this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the fat collection syringe used in theprocess of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal central section of the syringe shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of the plunger from the syringe shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a top end view of the plunger from the syringe shown in FIGS.2 and 3.

FIG. 6 is a bottom end view of the plunger from the syringe shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 7 is a detail view, partially in elevation and partially in sectionof the suction tube and filter cup from the syringe shown in FIGS. 2 and3.

FIG. 8 is a top end view of the barrel from the syringe shown in FIGS. 2and 3.

FIG. 9 is a bottom end view of the barrel from the syringe shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 10A is a schematic view showing the operation of a syringe oninsertion into body tissue.

FIG. 10B is a schematic view showing the operation of a syringe oninsertion into body tissue with the plunger moved into the barrel of thesyringe.

FIG. 11A is a schematic view showing the operation of a syringe oninsertion into body tissue when operated to distribute the injectedmaterial by withdrawing the needle as the syringe is operated.

FIG. 11B is a schematic view showing the operation of the syringe shownin FIG. 11A with the barrel retracted over the plunger to injectmaterial while simultaneously withdrawing the needle.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an apparatus for supporting a syringe formoving the barrel back over the plunger to inject material whilesimultaneously withdrawing the needle and providing means to move theplunger simultaneously to vary the distribution of the material beinginjected.

FIG. 13 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus for operating asyringe according to the mode of operation of the apparatus shownschematically in FIG. 12.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a flow diagram ofthis invention which consists of a new and improved process ofreconstructing human body surface configurations. In this process, thefirst step is to withdraw fat from subdermal layers in one portion ofthe human body utilizing a special lipid processing syringe, hereinafterreferred to as a LIPO syringe. The LIPO syringe is a specially-designed,vacuum-operated, collection syringe including apparatus to wash andfilter undesirable particulate and fibrous material from the extractedfat. The syringe has its needle inserted beneath the skin into a fattylayer and fat is withdrawn under a relatively high vacuum suction andcollected in a reservoir where it is washed and filtered before beingdischarged to storage or directly to an injection syringe.

The collected fat has the advantage that it is compatible with the bodytissues when it is used for body reconstruction. The collected fat isreinjected in other selected body portions in a controlled distributionto fill out and expand selected areas of the body. The injection steputilizes a specially designed mechanism for retracting the barrel of theinjection syringe relative to its plunger. A mechanism is also providedfor retracting the plunger simultaneously with the retraction of thebarrel. The rate of retraction of the barrel can be varied relative tothe retraction of the plunger. Details of the collection syringe andmechanism for operation of the injection syringe are described below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION SYRINGE

The lipid processing syringe, or LIPO syringe, is shown in detail in theassembly view of FIG. 2, and in the sectional and detail views of FIGS.3-9.

LIPO syringe 10 comprises a barrel 11 and movable plunger 12, bothpreferably of a thermally stable molded thermoplastic or thermosettingmaterial. Barrel 11 has a cylindrical wall 13 and inner cylindricalcavity 14 which slidably receives plunger 12. Barrel 11 has a smallercylindrical extension 15 with a small cylindrical cavity 16 open tocavity 14. Hollow nipples 17 and 18 open from cavity 16 for connectionto vacuum suction on one side and to a fat collection needle on theother side.

Plunger 12 comprises a one-piece molded member having a cylindricalplunger portion 19 and an enlarged cylindrical base or flange portion20. Passage 21 extends longitudinally through plunger portion 19 andopens into cylindrical openings or counterbores 22 and 23 in baseportion 20.

Inner end 24 of plunger portion 19 has a plurality of holes or recesses25 which receive wire or rod-like prongs 26 which form a scraper for afilter mounted on the plunger. Filter cap 27 is secured on the end of asuction tube 28 by soldering or the like as indicated at 29. Suctiontube 28 is hollow for its entire length but is closed off at the end byan imperforate portion of filter cap 27. Holes or apertures 30 openthrough the wall of suction tube 28 adjacent to the filter cap 27.Suction tube 28 is otherwise imperforate. Filter cap 27 has a pluralityof spaced holes or apertures 31 for filtering wash liquid and finematerial therethrough. Suction tube 28 is longitudinally movable inpassage 21 and may be rotated to rotate filter cap 27 to scrape againstscraper wires or rods 26.

Nipple 18 is connected initially to a source 32 of high vacuum suctionand later in the process to a source of wash liquid. Nipple 17 isinitially connected by tubing 33 to collection needle 34, which may bethe fat collection needle apparatus shown in Johnson U.S. Pat. No.4,536,180. The lower end 35 of suction tube 28 is closed by a cap 36initially but is connected, later in the process, to a source of lowvacuum suction for drawing a wash liquid through the fat collected inthe chamber or reservoir 37 formed by retraction of plunger portion 19in cavity 14. The operation of this collection syringe or LIPO syringewill be described more fully below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INJECTION SYRINGE OPERATING DEVICE

In the operation of syringes for injecting medication or other materialsinto the body the commonly used technique is that shown in FIGS. 10A and10B of the drawings. There is shown a syringe 40 having a barrel 41 andneedle 42. The needle 42 is shown in a position fully injected into thebody 43. Plunger 44 is shown in an initially retracted position with thebarrel full of the material to be injected. The plunger 44 is slowlymoved to a fully inserted position while maintaining the needle 42 in afixed location as in FIG. 10B. This technique is used where a fixedquantity of material is to be injected into a single location.

Another technique for operation of a syringe is that shown in FIGS. 11Aand 11B. This is used where it is necessary to change the point ofapplication of the injected material while the material is beinginjected. For example, when injecting a local anesthetic it may bedesirable to distribute the injected material over a region rather thanhave it concentrated at a single point. In FIG. 11A, the syringe 40 isshown with the needle 42 fully injected. In this technique, the plunger44 is held in a fixed position and the barrel 41 is retracted. Thiscauses the material in barrel 41 to be injected while needle 42 isslowly withdrawn as seen in FIG. 11B. The material being injected isthus injected along the length of the needle 42 as it is withdrawnrather than being concentrated at the tip of the needle as in thetechnique shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. In some cases, the plunger 44 maybe moved while the barrel 41 is being retracted which permits thedistribution of injected material to be varied. This technique isespecially useful when used in injecting fat into selected body regionsin accordance with this invention.

The manipulation of a syringe according to the procedure described aboveand shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is difficult to do in a regular andcontrolled manner by hand. This is especially true when simultaneousretraction of the barrel 41 and plunger 44 is required. The presentinvention of an injection gun for manipulating a syringe as justdescribed overcomes the difficulties of the manual technique.

In FIG. 12, there is shown a schematic of the mechanical elementsrequired in an injection apparatus for controlled manipulation of asyringe. A supporting member 45 supports movable member 46 whichreceives and supports plunger 44 of syringe 40. Movable member 46 isconnected by operating member 47 to supporting member 45. A secondsupporting member 48 receives and supports the barrel 41 of syringe 40for movement relative to plunger 44. Supporting member 48 is connectedby operating member 49 to supporting member 45. Controlled movement ofoperating members 47 and 49 will cause member 48 to retract barrel 41over plunger 44, and where needed, to move the support for plunger 44 tovary the rate of injection of material while varying the point ofapplication of the injected material.

In FIG. 13, the syringe operating apparatus is shown as an injection gun50 with syringe 40 positioned above it in preparation for insertion intothe gun. Injection gun 50 has a handle 51 with a longitudinal passage 52in which there is positioned a supporting and guiding sleeve 53. Handle51 has another passage 54 which receives supporting member 46 consistingof sliding rod 55 and abutment pin 56 against which the syringe plunger44 is positioned. Rod 55 is secured by screws or rivets 56 to trigger57. A link 58 is connected at one end to a pivot 59 on handle 51 and atthe other end to pin 60 which rides in slot 61 in trigger 57. Movementof trigger 57 provides a controlled movement of supporting member 46 tocontrol the movement of plunger 44 backward.

Supporting member 48, for retracting barrel 41 of syringe 40 overplunger 44, comprises trigger 62 having a spring clip portion 63 at itsupper end for receiving and moving syringe barrel 41. Clip portion 63 oftrigger 62 is guided for movement in slot 64 of guide sleeve 53. Link 65is connected at one end to pivot 59 on handle 51 and at the other end topin 66 which rides in slot 67 in trigger 62. Movement of trigger 62provides a controlled movement of supporting member 48 to control theretracting movement of barrel 41 over plunger 44.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION OF THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS

As described above, this invention consists of a new and improvedprocess of reconstructing human body surface configurations. In thisprocess, the first step is to withdraw fat from subdermal layers in oneportion of the human body utilizing a special lipid processing syringe,hereinafter referred to as a LIPO syringe 10. The LIPO syringe 10 is aspecially-designed, vacuum-operated, collection syringe includingapparatus to wash and filter undesirable particulate and fibrousmaterial from the extracted fat. LIPO syringe 10 is provided to the userin a sterile package for use under sterile conditions, as in anoperating room, or using sterile gloves, as in a clinic.

Syringe 10 has needle 34 inserted beneath the skin into a fatty layerand nipple 18 is initially connected to a relatively high vacuum suction32. Fat is withdrawn under vacuum and collected in reservoir 37 formedby withdrawal of plunger 12 from barrel 11 of LIPO syringe 10. Duringthis phase of the procedure, suction tube 28 is closed by cap 36.

When a sufficient amount of fat has been collected, nipple 18 isdisconnected from high vacuum suction 32 and is connected to a source ofsterile wash liquid, not shown. The sterile wash liquid may be a sterilesaline solution or other suitable medically acceptable liquid(irrigating solution) for washing the collected fat.

The LIPO syringe 10 is then inverted one or more times to wash the fat.When the LIPO syringe 10 is returned to an upright position, as in FIGS.2 and 3, and allowed to set for a short time, the fat floats to the topof the washing liquid and waste material settles out on the filter cap27. Application of low vacuum suction through suction tube 28 draws thewashing liquid and waste particulate and fibrous material through thesmall holes 31 in filter cap 27.

Because fat clogs any filter system easily and rapidly, the manner inwhich the filter is manipulated is important. The filter cap 27 may bemoved reciprocally by movement of suction tube 28. Also, filter cap 27may be rotated to scrape against scraper wires or rods 26 to assist indislodging the contaminant materials. Repeated extension and retractionof the filter cap and rotation against the scraper wires or rods allowfor additional removal of waste solution and contaminants.

A cap is places over nipple 18 on the ned of barrel 11 and nipple 17 isconnected by an adapter tube to an injection syringe. Alternatively, theadapter tube may be connected to a storage container to receive thecollected fat for storage prior to use. The fat is transferred to fillthe injector syringe 40, either directly from the LIPO syringe 10 orfrom storage. As previously noted, the collected fat has the advantagethat it is compatible with the body tissues when it is used for bodyreconstruction. The collected fat is reinjected in other selected bodyportions in a controlled distribution to fill out and expand selectedareas of the body.

The injection step utilizes a specially designed mechanism, as describedabove and shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, for retracting the barrel of theinjection syringe relative to its plunger. Operating mechanisms 47 and48 provide for retracting the plunger simultaneously with the retractionof the barrel. The rate of retraction of the barrel can be variedrelative to the retraction of the plunger.

Injector syringe 40 (called the LIPOJECT syringe) is placed in injectiongun 50 with plunger 44 positioned against the retractable stop 46 andbarrel 44 securely held in the spring clip 63 of supporting mechanism48. Triggers 57 and 62 provide for independent movement of the plungerstop 46 spring clip 63 moving the barrel 41. Independent movement oftriggers 57 and 62 can retract barrel 41 over plunger 44 to distributethe injected fat by withdrawing needle 42 during injection and canretract plunger stop 46 to control the rate of injection of fat whileneedle 42 is being withdrawn.

While this invention has been described fully and completely withspecial emphasis on certain preferred embodiments, it should beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims this inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

I claim:
 1. A fat collection syringe for use with a fat collectionneedle using a source of high vacuum for drawing collected fat into thesyringe and sources of low vacuum and of washing liquid for washing thecollected fat, said syringe comprisinga barrel having an open end and aclosed end, a plunger longitudinally movable in said barrel and havingan end wall defining a collection chamber of variable volume with saidclosed end, said closed end having nipples, each opening into saidcollection chamber and communicating each with the other, said nippleshaving means for connection respectively to a source of high suctionvacuum and to a collection needle, said plunger having a longitudinalcentral passage with one end opening into said collection chamber andthe other end open to the exterior of said syringe having means forconnection to a low suction vacuum providing means for drawing a washingliquid through the material collected in said collection barrel.
 2. Afat collection according to claim 1 includingfilter means positioned onsaid plunger adjacent to said collection chamber to filter wash liquidflowing from said collection chamber through said longitudinal centralpassage.
 3. A fat collection according to claim 2 includingscraper meanspositioned on said plunger adjacent to said collection chamber andoperable to scrape collected material from said filter means to improvefiltration of wash liquid flowing from said collection chamber throughsaid longitudinal central passage.
 4. A fat collection according toclaim 2 in whichsaid filter means is a screen mounted on said plungeradjacent to said collection chamber to filter wash liquid flowing fromsaid collection chamber through said longitudinal central passage.
 5. Afat collection according to claim 4 includingscraper means positioned onsaid plunger adjacent to said collection chamber and operable to scrapecollected material from said screen to improve filtration of wash liquidflowing from said collection chamber through said longitudinal centralpassage.
 6. A fat collection syringe for use with a fat collectionneedle using a source of high vacuum for drawing collected fat into thesyringe and sources of low vacuum and of washing liquid for washing thecollected fat, said syringe comprisinga barrel having an open end and aclosed end, a plunger longitudinally movable in said barrel and havingan end wall defining a collection chamber of variable volume with saidclosed end, said closed end having nipple means, each opening into saidcollection chamber and communicating each with the other, said nipplemeans being adapted for connection respectively to a source of highsuction vacuum and to a collection needle, said plunger having alongitudinal central passage with one end opening into said collectionchamber and the other end open to the exterior of said syringe adaptedfor connection to a low suction vacuum for drawing a washing liquidthrough the material collected in said collection barrel, scraper meansmounted on said plunger end, a suction tube extending through saidlongitudinal central passage with one end extending into said chamberand the other end extending out of said passage, filter means secured onsaid suction tube one end and positioned in engagement with said scrapermeans, said suction tube other end having a cap means thereon whenvacuum is being applied to said nipple means connected to high suctionvacuum, the cap means being removable from the suction tube forconnecting said tube to a low suction vacuum so that connection of saidhigh vacuum nipple means to a source of washing liquid will draw thesame through the fatty material collected in said collection barrel, andsaid suction tube being rotatable to move said filter means relative tosaid scraper means to facilitate removal of contaminants from collectedmaterial while washing the same with said washing liquid.